Dishwashing machine



31, 1934- E. s. STODDARD 1,968,657

' DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 InvenjfirEdgar S Stoddard- B WMWM July 31, 1934. s. STODDARD 1,968,657

' DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed rch 5,1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig-2.

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By WWW July 31, 1934. STODDARD 1,968,657

I DI SHWASHING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1930 5 Sheets-shat 4 luilmlmalIrLUerEZFr Edgar 5- Stoddard.

IIIIIIII v IIIIIIIII y ,1934. E. s. STODDARD 1,968,657

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII NE Filed March 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Shet 5 Jnwma E c1903"5- @fioddard Patented July 31, 1934.

1,968,657 FICEI 1,968,657 -msnwasnmc moms Edgar s. Stoddard, Berwyn, m,assignor to The Conover Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Application March 5,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in dishwashing machines, andit-more particularly relates to improved rack arrangements for holdingthe dishes and similar objects to be washed in the interior of themachine.

An object of this invention is to provide an im.- proved rackarrangement which is adapted to position all the dishes, saucers, cups,glasses, silverware, etc. in .the interior of the washing chamber so asto obtain an economical utilization of the space within such washingchamber.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rackarrangement which is adapted to position all the articles to be cleansedand rinsed so that all surfaces thereof will be effectively exposed tothe cleansing and rinsing liquids when the machine is in operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved rackarrangement which is selfcleansing and which will be cleansed and rinsedat the same time as the articlesv which it contains.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved rackarrangement for 'dishwashing machines ofthe spray-projection type.

Other objects will appear during the course of the followingspecification, among which is the provision of a rack constructionadapted to be satisfactorily coated or covered with organic coatingssuch as of rubber.

Although this invention is broadly directed to improvements inconnection with all dishwashing machines, it is especially directed toimprovements to be used in connection with the centrifugal sprayprojector-type of washing machines,

which are more fully described and shown in the copending application,Serial No. 389,696 filed August 31, 1929, which has matured into PatentNo. 1,937,100, granted November 28, 1933.

' The following drawings illustrate one embodiment ofthe invention asapplied to the centrifugal spray projector-type of dishwashing machines,to which the invention is by no means restricted.

Fig. 1 represents a side sectional view of the washing machine and theracks inposition;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower dish rack showing the silver rack inposition;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the inner upper rack;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the outer upper rack;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the silver rack;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 0 I of m.

1930, Serial No. 433,206

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the impeller guard; and

Fig; 12 is a sectional view taken along line l2-12 ofFig. 11.

In Fig. 1 the washing machine is composed of a vertical cylindrical tank11 which is provided with a removable cover 12, the tank being attachedto the structure 13 forming part of a. household sink. The structure 13is adapted to be placed in position permanently in a kitchen. The tankis provided with a centrally draining bottom 1'7. At the lowest portionofthe' centrally draining bottom is positioned a. well chamber 20- inthe lowest compartment 21 of which is placed a centrifugal pump. Thecleansing and rinsing liquids are adapted to be admitted to the tank byan inlet connection. In the lowest central portion of the tank ispositioned the impeller 35 which is driven by the motor 36. The lid 12is adapted to be removed from the top of the tank and placed over thesink portion when it is desired to load or unload the machine.

The lower rack structure is shown in section in position in the machineupon Fig. 1. It is shown in top view removed from the machine in Fig. 2.Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional'view of the lower rack taken along line3-3 in Fig. 2. In both Figs. 2 and 3 the silverware holder is inposition. Fig. 8 is a top view of the silverware holder removed from thelower rack, while Figs. 9 and 10 are side sectional views thereof. Thelower rack is provided with a series of centrally tangential dish.-holders which are so proportioned and shaped as to receive substantiallyall shapes and kinds of dishes now in current use and expose them in aproper fashion to the cleansing spray. In the embodiment shown theseholders are all substantially of the same size. The lower rack isadapted to hold the larger platesa'nd dishes. The silverware rack issupported in the outer portion of the washing chamber by the lower rackand is adapted to hold the knives, forks and spoons, during thecleansing operation. The lower rack is preferably supported on thebottom of the tank 17 by three symmetrically positioned legs 45, but {italso may be supported on the baffles 43 attached to the impeller guard44. The legs 45 also are adapted to support the rack when it is outsidethe tank so as to prevent any of the downwardly projecting portions ofthe dishes from being chipped and otherwise marred.

A portion of the outer periphery of the lower rack is constructed so asto receive the silverware holder 46 (see Figs. 8, 9 and 10). This holderis provided with the handles 47, which handles are so positioned inrespect to the center of gravstructed and is so positioned that theknives, forks and spoons contained therein will receive the full effectof the cleansingi spray. It will be noted that the holder is arcuate inshape to conform to the shape of the tank. As shown in the presentembodiment of the invention it is provided with a series ofsubstantially vertical cylindrical compartments 48. Several of theseventeen compartments 54 are made slightly larger than the remainder so.as to hold utensilswith larger and wider handles. These compartmentsare of such width as to receive the handles of the knives, forks, spoonsand similar objects, maintain such articles in substantially verticalposition and prevent them from falling upon their sides. The holdershown in. Figs. 8, 9 and 10' is made of three aluminum castings whichare attached to one another by the bolts 50. The upper section isdrilled or cored so as to form the cylindrical compartments 48 while thelower section 49 is left open at the side so as to permit of readydrainage. The bottom 52 of the lower section 49 is adapted to supportthe ends of the handles of the inverted knives, forks and spoons. Theintermediate section 53 is provided with angular inwardly projectingstrips 55 which prevent the handles of the implements from sliding offthe bottom 52. It will be noted that the bottom 52 slopes toward thesides of the holder so as to insure ready drainage. The angular locationof the silverware container is determined by the wires 60 and 61. It islocated radially by the wire 62. The bottom of the holder rests upon thewires 63 (see Figs. 1 and 3). The holder is preferably cast orconstructed of aluminum. Although the rest of the rack is usuallyprovided with a protective coating, the aluminum holder is preferablyleft uncoated so that there may be a close contact between thesilverware placed therein and the metallic rack structure. During thewashing operation the aluminum rack and silverware are subjected to theaction of alkaline solutions, and as a result electrical or chemicalreactions are set up resulting in a very satisfactory and rapidcleansing of the silverware. The holder may also be constructed of othermetallic materials, higher in the electromotive series than silver,which in addition have the necessary qualities to serve as a silverwareholder.

A circular series of wire dish holders are provided in the lower rackfor the various sized dishes and plates. The smaller and deeper vesselsare positioned in the upper rack structure which will be sebsequentlydescribed. One set of these wire holders extends between the inner ring65 and the intermediateringfiG (see Figs. 2 and 3). The wire holdersbetween the rings 65 and 66 are provided with tangential pockets and areadapted to hold the dishes with their concave faces slightly inclinedfrom the vertical and tangent to the mean circumference of the waterimpeller 35 in a direction opposite to its rotation. The inclinationwill vary with the shape, size and type of water distributing device andin certain cases the dishes may be placed in substantially verticalposition. It is also desirable in the case of certain dishes to set theholders radially, instead of tangentially. The dishes are positioned inthese holders in such a manner that the tangential line on which theyare set willintersect the projected water at an acute angle less than90. The projected water, which is in the form of a spray during theoperation of the machine, may be considered as being initiated from themiddle of the spoon-shaped projector at the top of the impeller 35. Theother set of holders extends between the intermediate concentric wire 66and the outer concentric wire 68. These holders are adapted to hold thelargest dishes adjacent the wall of the washing chamber and transverseto a radius.

The tangential holders between the rings 65 and 66 extend entirelyaround the rack and are all of substantially the same size and shape.The concentric rings 65 and 66 are adjacent the bottom of the rack andon substantially the same level. These rings 65 and 66 together supportthe bottoms of the dishes. The backs of the dishes are properlysupported and positioned by the inverted U-like wires 69 which areattached at their lower ends to the concentric wires 65 and 66. Thesewires 69 extend around the entire inner circle of the rack so as toenclose the impeller 35 and the impeller guard 44 and slanted backwardlyas if their upper portions had been pushed backwardlyby the projectedspray. The angle of inclination to the vertical, however, is very slightand is usually not over about 10 to 25 and in the embodiment shown isabout 15. The wires 69 rise to their maximum height above and slightlyto the outside of the inner concentric wire 65 at the point 70. Theupper portions 71 of the U-wires 69 are straight and slope downwardlytoward the outside of the rack until they join the outer verticalportions 72 substantially directly above the circle 66. These portions72 are attached to the ring 66 at their lower ends at the point 74.Between the rings 66 and portions 72, are the short slanting supportwires 73 which are attached to ring 66 slightly in front of (that is, inopposite direction to the inclination of) the U-wire 69, and to theportion 72 slightly above-the point of attachment 74. These wires 73cause that portion of the dish resting upon the ring 66 to slideforwardly (in opposite direction to the inclination of the wires 69).The heights of the U-wires 69 are such that the plates and dishes may bereadily loaded or unloaded by taking hold of them above the wires. Theposition of highest point 75 of the U wires 69 is so regulated that itwill support the back of a dish placed in the holder. The position ofthe point 76 at the junction of the portions 71 and 72 is substantiallylower than the position of point 75. In most cases only the lowerportions of the wires '72 (on the opposite side of the short wire 73)serve to contact with the lower outer edge of the dish, and it isdesirable to reduce the height of the wire 72 below the height of theinner wire 77 so as to enable easier loading. The inclination of thewires 71 is also particularly advantageous as it enables the rack to beutilized in supporting pans and pots in proper relationship to thecleansing spray. As mentioned before the holders formed by the wires 65,66, 69 and 73 are all of substantially the same size and shape. Theconstruction of these holders is such that substantially all sizes andshapes of dishes in current use may be supported therein in properrelationship to the cleansing spray. r The guard 44 is so positioned inregard to the lower rack that the dishes will not be able to roll out ofthe holders 65--66--6973 onto the impeller. The guard (see Figs. 1, 11and 12) consists of a. series of rings 86, 87, 88, 89 and 90. The rings87 to 90 are cbnnected together by the symmetrically positioned U-shapedwires 91. The short plates 92 are positioned at the top of the guard andare attached to the concentric wires 86 and 87. The bottoms 93 of theU-wires 91 are i centrar pdrnoa of the upper rack. To the side offthe'j' g uard '44, and preferably welded to the circular wire 88 thereof,are secured a plurality of radiallyprojecting'baiiles 43, the outerportions ofiwhich 'rest adj acent the bottom of the tank."Thesebaillesretard 'therotation of water, thereby loading the impellerwith the proper amount of wash, liquid. In addition to this function thepermit foodparticles to pass from the tank into the well chamberj l dersextending between the intermedie ring 66and "the outer ring 68 areadapted to redeiye thelargest plates or bowls. The radial L-shapedwires100 are attached to the concentric rings 66 and 68 and with these ringsform tlieouter dish holders of the lower rack (see Figs. 11,,"2 jandB).On the bottom portions of these "wires 100is' positionedthe concentricwire 67. The L-wires 100 are so angularly spaced that only .a propernumber of the large dishes may be positioned around the outer portion ofthe lower "rack. ,The inner lower edge of the large dishes in this outerlower rack will rest against either the inner vertical portions 72 ofthe U-wires 69 or against the concentric ring 67 and the bottom or theL-wires 100, depending upon their depth, the deeper dishes restingagainst the wires 72 and the shallow dishes. against the wire 67.'

These plates are caused to lean backward so that they willface thecenter of the machine and not come into contact with the smaller plateslocated in the central holders. The backs of these dishes will restagainst the outer vertical portions 102 of the L -wires 100 and/or thering 68. The lower rack is provided with three upwardly extendingsupports 103. The supports 103 serve to position "thsupiper dish rack bythe bent portions 104, as is readilyapparent upon Fig. 1. The-innercircle ofthe lower rack is adapted to support approxi- [mately 24dinner, salad or bread and butter plates of 5" toY12' diameter, whilethe outer circle is .adapt'e'd'to supportseveral deeper dishes such asf'vesta e d es. a

The .upperrackstructures are shown in position intlie, machinein Fig. 1and their component parts" are "'shown' removed from the machine intop,and sidefsectionalviejw upon Figs. 4, 5, 6 and .7 The rackconsist'sfoftwo concentric sections, I r. seet'ion s ewn on Figs. 4 and5 and an "sedtiojrijshown innigsf; o and 7. The inner upper rackifss'upp'ort'ed upon the outer upper rack adapted"to belutilized as adeep vessel hold ' i a series, of radial and concentric wires elded -orotherwise joined together to Jtingfrusto-conical secsane i119 and "three,cylindrical portions side andbetweenjsfaid conical sections. The rackis provided with 'a'series of short radial wiresd lfi and aseries of.longer radial wires 117. These radial wires are'welded or otherwiseattached to a series of concentric wires 123, 124, 125 and 126, the-concentric wires 123 and 124 being-outside or above the radial wires117 and 119 and the concentric wires 125 and 126 being below or outsideof the same wires. Several of l the long radial wires 117, preferablysymmetrically positioned, are extended to the center of the struc-- tureand welded or otherwise attached together,

as shown at 136, the remaining wires 117 ter- 'I'he-innenupper rackshown as Figs. 4 and 5 ported rings 150 or 151.

tended wires 117 together with the ring 123 form a central cylinderwhich is adapted to hold a deep vessel vertically over the impeller(that is,

minating at the innermost ring 124. These ex- The conical section 118 isformed by sloping portions of the radial wires 117 and the concentricwires124. formed by the inner substantially vertical portions of theradial wires 116 and117, the former of which terminate at the outermostring 124. The outer sloping or conical section 119 is formed Thecylindrical section 121 is by the rings 125 and sloping portions of theradial wires 116 and 117. Finally, the cylindrical portion 122 iscomposed of the outer substantially vertical portions of the radialwires 116' and 117 and the ring 126. The projecting portions of thewires 116 and 117 are looped over as indicated at 138. The loops 138 andthe vertical portions 121 and 122 are adapted to support the sides ofthe glasses, cups and other deep vessels, while the articles are restingon the conical sections 118 and 119 faced downwardly. The loops 138 areparticularly of value in supporting long and slender vessels, such asglass tumblers. The conical bottoms formed by the welded radial wiresand concentric rings are inclined to the horizontal at a sufiicientangle to permit the cleansing streams to strike the center of the innerbottoms of the inverted vessels and provide proper drainage for thewater from the upturned bottoms.

This angle isabout 10 to 30?, usually about 15 toms of the bends inwires 154 and/or l55. The

wires 156 are attached to the lowermo'st ring .152 which rests uponthe'portions 104 on the' eX- tensions 103 of the lower rack (seeFig. 1).The

.wires 154 and'155 extend from the outermostiring 153, over theintermediate ring'l49', to theupp'er most ring 150 in the case'of the'wires 154 orthe innermost ring 151 in the case of the wires 155. Thering 151 supports the inner'upper rack below its conical portion 119'and the ring 150 centrally locates it. The pockets formed by the bentwires 154 and 155 are adapted to-rec'eive saucers and small plates, thewires-being properly" radially spaced for this purpose. In amodifiedconstruction the wires 154 and 155 may all extendeither to thering 150 or the ring 151 and other supporting wiresprovided'top'os'ition' the unsup- Thewires 154 and 155 should be soinclined outwardly that the dishes supported therein do not interferewith the positioning of the inner upper rack upon the ring 151 andwithin the ring 150. They should also prevent the dishes from makingcontact with the walls of the washing chamber. Both the upper and lowerracks are spaced away from the walls so that there will always be anopportunity for the cleansing spray to-wash the entire interior of themachine. The outer upper rack has a capacity of about 12 saucers orplates of about 5 diameter. The embodiment of the inner upper rack shownin Fig. 4 has a capacity of 18 glasses or cups. The inner conical bottomof the inner upper rack is positioned below the inner edge of the outerconical section, but not sufiiciently below to prevent the water sprayprojected by the impeller 35 from effectually contacting with thearticles on said outer conical portion.

The rack structures may be made from stainless alloys or they may becoated with glass or other enamels or organic coatings to prevent themfrom rusting and from marking or marring the dishes. In the embodimentshown they are provided with a rubber coating of about 1/64 to 5/64 ofan inch in thickness. They may also be colored light gray so as to givethem a sanitary apthe liquids collecting in the central lower portion ofthe washing chamber upwardly and outwardly. The wires in the cage 44 areso spaced and positioned that they will not materially interfere withthe spray-projection of the cleansing liquids. Part of the projectedliquids will pass upwardly through the circular space formed by theholders 69 and will be effective in cleansing the articles in the upperrack. The spray-projection of this liquid will be assisted by means ofthe shortbaffies 92 placed on top of the cage 44. The liquidspray-projected outwardly will strike for most part acutely upon theconcave side of the dishes and plates in the holders 6566-69 and part ofthe liquid will be deflected outwardly against the dishes in the outerholders 666'l68-100, and the other part will be deflected upwardly intothe articles, principally in the outer portions of the upper rackstructure. Substantial portions of the spray-projected liquid will alsobe directly projected against the internal walls of the washing chamberand the dishes in the outer holders duce the amount of whirl and motiontherein.

The structure described heretofore may be variously modified withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, and all such embodiments areintended to be included in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a spray-projection type dishwashing machine, a dish rackcomprising a series of vertical dish holders, said holders consisting ofinner and outer transverse supports adapted to support the lower edge ofthe dish, inclined side members adapted to support the back of the dishand cause it to lie backwardly and short backwardly inclined wiresbetween the outer edges of the side members and the outer transversesupport adapted to cause the lower outer edge of the dish to slideforwardly.

2. A dish rack comprising a series of substantially vertical dishholders consisting of inner and outer supports adapted to-support thelower edge of the dish, backwardly inclined side members adapted tosupport the back of the dish and cause it to lie backwardly and shortbackwardly inclined wires between the outer edges of the side membersand the outer support adapted to cause the lower outer edge of the dishto slide forwardly.

3. In a dish rack, a metallic silverware holder the upper portion ofwhich is provided with a series of cylindrical compartments forreceiving and holding the handles of silverware, and the lower port onof which is open and provided with an outwardly sloping bottom to insuredrainage, the upper part of said open portion being provided withinwardly directed ledges for the purpose of preventing the downwardlyturned handles of the silverware from sliding off the bottom of thesilverware holder.

4. In a dish rack, a, metallic silverware holder provided with handlesadjacent the top of the holder, said handles being placed slightly toone side of the center of gravity of the holder, said holder beingprovided with an upper portion having narrow vertical compartmentsslightly wider than and adapted to receive the handles of the silverwareandgaeing also open :at the sides below the holding po tion so as topermit ready drainage.

5. In-combination with an annular dishwashing machine rack adapted to beplaced in the lower part of the washing chamber of a dishwashing machineand to encircle the upper portion of an impeller positioned in the lowercentral portion thereof, a guard adapted to prevent dishes from rollingout of the holders in said rack, comprising a framework dome consistingof a series of crossing wires and provided with several fiat verticalplates in the upper portion thereof, said guard being positioned so asto extend over substantially all of and project upwardly from the spaceinside of said annular dish rack.

6. A dish rack comprising an outer ring, an inner ring, a series of wireloops connecting said rings and extending therebelow, the lower portionof the wire loops being bent inwardly toward the central portion of therack.

7. A dish rack comprising an outer ring, an inner ri g, a series ofdownwardly extending wire loops h ving oneend attached to said outerring and the other end extending across and inwardly of the inner ring,and an inner dish rack removably positioned on the inward extensions ofsaid loops.

8. In combination, a dish rack comprising an outer ring, an inner ring,and downwardly extending wire loops connected to said rings, a pluralityof downwardly extending wires connected to said rack, and a ringconnected to said downwardly extending wires to form positioning means.

EDGAR S. STODDARD.

